London’s budget hotel sector has experienced significant growth since the city hosted the 2012 Olympic Games, a new report reveals.

More than half of the 18,000 hotel rooms that have opened in London since 2012 have been in the budget sector, while 33% of the 7,000 rooms due for completion this year will fall into the ‘budget’ bracket.

The London Hotel Development Monitor shows that low-cost hotels now make up 20% of the total room stock across the city.

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Traditionally investment in hotels in London has focused around central areas, however, the joint report by JLL and London & Partners, shows that high rents and values in the West End are leading to the expansion of traditional boundaries.

New infrastructure improvements and a booming digital economy has created a “Knowledge Corridor” that stretches from Bloomsbury to Paddington, taking in Fitzrovia and North of Oxford Street.

Hotel activity is increasing as these areas grow, with Premier Inn opening another hotel on Tottenham Court Road this year and US-based hotel operator Standard International, headed up by Andre Balazs, opening its first hotel in 2018 in the former Camden Town Hall.

Shoreditch has also become a hotspot for hotel development due to building availability and lower costs compared to more central locations with new hotels including Z Hotels and Nobu Hotel Shoreditch opening up. During 2016, a further 800 rooms are expected to be added to the area.

The report shows that London dominates investment across Europe’s hotel sector with the capital attracting 36% of total investment.

Gordon Innes, chief executive of London & Partners said: “The hotel industry is a vital part of London’s booming tourism economy, which is now worth £36bn and supports hundreds of thousands of jobs, many of which are widely accessible. As more and more visitors come and explore our great city, it’s encouraging to see the hotel sector growing and bringing exciting new developments de visitors.”

Graham Craggs, managing director in JLL’s Hotels & Hospitality Group, commented:“2015 was an exceptionally strong year in terms of hotel transactions in London. Activity will remain high in 2016 and we expect the trend will shift towards single asset transactions. Underlying market fundamentals continue to be positive and the outlook for hotel performance in London is good.”